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Colorado's smaller companies showing off and taking aim at the big time

By Andy Vuong The Denver Post

Posted:
01/08/2012 01:00:00 AM MST

Updated:
01/13/2012 11:07:51 AM MST

Attendees look at a display of Samsung 3-D televisions in a room with a mirrored ceiling at the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
(Getty Images file
)

Roximity was a just a glimmer in the eyes of three entrepreneurs a few months ago. This week, the Denver-based mobile software start up will share the stage with Ford at the world's largest consumer technology trade show.

Roximity's founders won a "hackathon" competition in September with an app that delivers personalized, time-sensitive offers. The prize was to be featured in the automaker's in-dash platform at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

"We're going for the exposure, and we're starting our fundraising process," said Danny Newman, 31, who co-founded Roximity shortly after the September competition. "Hopefully, we'll get some more national brands on board and round out our initial investment round."

Austin Gayer, left, and Danny Newman of Denver-based Roximity relax in their office. Roximity won a "hackathon" contest with an app that delivers personalized, time-sensitive offers. The prize: its app in Ford's in-dash platform at the electronics show.
(AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
)

A number of tiny Colorado companies, many of them startups, are crashing a party better known as a product launchpad for technology giants such as Sony and Microsoft than a place for newbies to make their mark.

Show organizers do sell floor space to up-and-comers, and about two dozen firms large and small with Colorado ties are listed as exhibitors at the show.

But you won't find startups such as PopSockets on that list. That's because the Boulder-based iPhone-case maker is going guerrilla-style to the show to network and market its product.

David Barnett, who started PopSockets last year as a side project, considered grabbing floor space at CES's iLounge, which is geared toward Apple accessories.

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But he ditched the idea after discovering that only a hidden, back-corner booth was available, at a cost of several thousand dollars.

"I thought it would be better to just walk around and meet everybody I can," said Barnett, noting that others have told him that simply "looking at name tags and finding the people you need to talk to" can result in on-the-spot interviews and potential partnerships.

The PopSockets case will feature two buttons on the back that users can wrap their headphones around to keep them from tangling up. The buttons can also expand like an accordion to serve as a kickstand.

Barnett, who works full-time as a University of Colorado at Boulder professor, plans to launch a Kickstarter .com campaign this week, with hopes of raising $12,000.

Walking the show for coating

Longmont-based Vapor Technologies is sending business development manager Gary Larson to CES to help expand the reach of its product, a thin-film coating found on kitchen and bathroom faucets.

Like Barnett, Larson will walk the show to make his pitch rather than setting up shop on the exhibit floor.

The company recently released a "true black" coating that it hopes will catch the eyes of smartphone and tablet makers. The coating can protect against scratches and offer a uniform black color.

"We're trying to get more recognition for it, getting in contact with other consumer electronics companies that we haven't been in touch with to make sure they understand what these coatings are capable of, both the decorative aspect as well as the durability that goes along with it," Larson said.

"It was exactly what we thought we needed for the vehicle," said Julius Marchwicki, product manager for Ford's SYNC AppLink.

But Ford hasn't committed to rolling out the Roximity app as a full-fledged partner just yet. The app would sync with the automaker's in-dash platform to deliver to drivers time-sensitive deals based on their requests and location.

"We're expanding our reach into some startups to really get a feel for what it's like to work with a smaller company, to give us an idea of how good our software is and how good our support is," Marchwicki said.

"This is the first time we're really engaging with a true startup that didn't exist a handful of months ago."

Linking up with Samsung

Greenwood Village-based UsingMiles, which helps consumers manage loyalty rewards such as airline miles and credit-card points, is another startup that's heading to CES after catching the eye of a major corporation.

UsingMiles co-founder Krista Paul said Samsung reached out last year with hopes of featuring the startup's service in the electronics manufacturer's new app store.

"We said that sounds awesome, except we don't have an app," Paul said.

With Samsung's help, the company quickly developed a mobile software program. In return, UsingMiles will offer Samsung device users free access to a premium service that will cost other users $30 annually. The premium features include an awards search engine that shows flights and hotel rooms that can be redeemed with frequent-flier miles and rewards points.

Samsung will showcase the app at its CES booth.

"It's just really neat to be launching with such a massive partner," Paul said.

Lockheed says object part of 'sensor technology' testing that ended ThursdayWhat the heck is that thing? It's fair to assume that question was on the minds of many people who traveled along Colo. 128 south of Boulder this week if they happened to catch a glimpse of what appeared to be a large, silver projectile perched alongside the highway and pointed north toward town.

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